Matt Cowley Tauranga City Councillor

Our Central Business District is like other CBDs throughout NZ and overseas – they need to redefine their role in modern society. The way people shop and do business has changed the role of CBD's from last century.

Tauranga's CBD is located on a skinny peninsular because it was the easiest location for the colonial ships to dock.

The port grew as it was main method of trading goods in the 1800s. The hive of local consumerism around the port sprouted supporting businesses, which gave birth to Tauranga's CBD.

But during time, we Tauranga residents have distanced ourselves from the port as most of the things we buy today are either trucked or flown in. This means the role of our CBD has changed.

Our suburban shopping malls mean most people will drive passed a retail hub before they reach the CBD. Technology is further changing consumers' buying habits.

But Tauranga's CBD isn't dead – it is just evolving. Our CBD has attracted more private sector investment than any other regional CBD in NZ since the recession.

Tauranga City Council is investing $8 million into improving the CBD's waterfront and streetscapes. We are signalling to property developers that if they invest in new developments, we will improve the surrounding streetscape, such as Durham St.

We're also investing $29 million into providing more parking – which is self-funded. We already have a waiting list to lease parking spots. The demand will continue to grow with TrustPower and the new tertiary education campus developments.

We're also continuing our free after 3pm on-street parking, as well as automating our carpark buildings so they are open 24 hours daily.

Tauranga's CBD has a different role from last century, thanks to improved technology and infrastructure. It's centrally located within a beautiful harbour setting and is easily accessible from anywhere in the city.

The CBD is a concentration of services that build on each other's success. For example, tertiary education, co-working spaces, business advisors, lawyers, consultants, and marketing professionals want to be close to each other.

Council is encouraging more people to live, learn, work and play in the CBD by relaxing planning rules to encourage more residential developments and improving public spaces.

The region's economy depends on a strong, vibrant CBD where like-minded, high-productive business can feed off of each other's innovation and prosperity. Retail must evolve to support the CBD's new role.

Feel free to email me your thoughts (matt.cowley@tauranga.govt.nz), call/text me on 027 6989 548, and follow me at www.facebook.com/a.younger.voice.